In his first-ever interview, the sole Australian survivor of the Waco siege has revealed to 60 Minutes what really took place during the 51-day stand-off, and why he believes crazed cult leader David Koresh will one day return to Earth as the son of God.

Govt rhetoric demonises young offenders

"Toxic" government rhetoric demonising young offenders in the Northern Territory has led to abuses in detention, an Alice Springs lawyer has told the royal commission into juvenile justice.

Footage of boys being tear-gassed, spit-hooded and shackled while behind bars in the NT prompted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to call the inquiry.

The Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission's Russell Goldflam says denigrating language from political leaders empowered guards in youth detention to use force to punish young detainees.

"The same vitriol and hatred (was) being promulgated not just by shock jocks but by the people we have elected to run our Territory," he said.

Mr Goldflam, President of the NT Criminal Lawyers Association, criticised former NT Attorney General John Elferink, but said former Chief Minister Adam Giles is also guilty of "extremely dangerous" rants.

In September, shortly after the 2014 tear gassing incident at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre was broadcast nationally, Mr Elferink publicly said "these are strapping young lads but my goodness gracious me, we will crack down on them and we will control them".

"The way in which this inflammatory rhetoric was being pumped out into our community, in my view had this toxic corrupting effect," Mr Goldflam said.